The Acute Physiological and Perceptual Responses Between Bodyweight and Treadmill Running High-Intensity Interval Exercises

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare the acute physiological, perceptual, and enjoyment responses between bodyweight high-intensity interval exercise (BW-HIIE) and treadmill running high-intensity interval exercise HIIE (RUN-HIIE).MethodsTwelve adults [age: 29.5 ± 5.3 years; weight: 70.9 ± 15.0 kg; height: 167.9 ± 8.9 cm; peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak): 48.7 ± 6.5 ml min−1·kg−1] performed both RUN-HIIE and BW-HIIE. RUN-HIIE consisted of two sets of 5, 60-s (s) run intervals at 100% of the speed achieved during VO2 peak testing followed by 60s of walking at 4.02 km/h. BW-HIIE consisted of two sets of 5, 60s ‘all-out’ effort calisthenic exercises followed by 60s of marching in place at 100 steps per minute. Oxygen consumption (VO2), blood lactate (Blac), heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during exercise. Physical activity enjoyment (PACES) was assessed post-exercise. Creatine Kinase (CK) was measured before exercise and 48-h post-exercise. Muscle soreness was assessed before exercise, post-exercise, and 48-h post-exercise.ResultsOxygen consumption relative to VO2 peak was higher (p < 0.001) during RUN-HIIE (88 ± 3%) compared to BW-HIIE (77 ± 4%). HR relative to HRpeak was higher (p = 0.002) for RUN-HIIE (93 ± 1%) compared to BW-HIIE (88 ± 2%). Blac was higher (p < 0.001) after BW-HIIE (11.2 ± 3.2 mmol/l) compared to RUN-HIIE (6.9 ± 2.0 mmol/l). Average RPE achieved was higher (p = 0.003) during BW-HIIE (16 ± 2) than RUN-HIIE (14 ± 2). PACES was similar for RUN-HIIE and BW-HIIE (p > 0.05). No differences (p > 0.05) in CK were observed between RUN-HIIE and BW-HIIE.ConclusionOur results indicate ‘all-out’ calisthenic exercise can elicit vigorous cardiorespiratory, Blac, and RPE responses. Implementing this style of exercise into training requires minimal space, no equipment, and may elicit cardiometabolic adaptations seen with traditional forms of high-intensity exercise.

Body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and neuromuscular adaptations induced by a home-based whole-body high intensity interval training

“…This is in line with a recent study showing that oxygen consumption is lower during WB-HIIT compared to a running HIIT with a similar exercise to rest ratio. 56 This hypothesis is also supported by the dose-response relationship between the time spent at high intensity and VO 2 peak improvements shown by present and previous studies. 61 WB-HIIT is indeed characterized by a greater complexity and muscle strain, due to the use of bodyweight multi-joint exercises, which may limit execution pace and increase as compared to unimodal HIIT.…”

“…This, combined to the previously reported high blood lactate concentration attained during WB-HIIT, 56 could have triggered the slight increase in leg lean mass. 56 , 57 …”

“… 51 , 52 However, recent literature suggested that hypertrophy may also be triggered by rapid and repeated transitions from eccentric to concentric portion of the movement (i.e., stretch-shortening cycles), 53 , 54 and accumulation of fatigue related metabolites (i.e., metabolic stress). 51 , 52 , 54 , 55 , 56 Although the training load is moderate (i.e., bodyweight), WB-HIIT involves fast concentric and eccentric contractions of the lower limbs. This, combined to the previously reported high blood lactate concentration attained during WB-HIIT, 56 could have triggered the slight increase in leg lean mass.…”

“… 51 , 52 , 54 , 55 , 56 Although the training load is moderate (i.e., bodyweight), WB-HIIT involves fast concentric and eccentric contractions of the lower limbs. This, combined to the previously reported high blood lactate concentration attained during WB-HIIT, 56 could have triggered the slight increase in leg lean mass. 56 , 57 …”

“…61 WB-HIIT is indeed characterized by a greater complexity and muscle strain, due to the use of bodyweight multi-joint exercises, which may limit execution pace and increase as compared to unimodal HIIT. 56 …”